1. In the space below, describe the stasis at the beginning of Zoot Suit. In other words, “Where are we?” “When is it (time, day, and year)?” “Who are the people involved?” “What is the dramatic situation in which the characters find themselves as the play unfolds? The play starts with the introduction to the 38th Street Gang members, a group of young men and their girlfriends, who are headed to a party. This is based on a true story and takes place in 1943, a time when zoot suits were the fashion for many young men and often was associated with certain minority groups. Their rivals are the The Downey Gang, and Henry Reyna (the leader and main character to the play), his brother Rudy, and the gang are about to get in a lot of trouble for the events that happen that night.
2. What is the intrusion that causes the stasis to be broken and the dramatic action to develop, often at an increasingly rapid pace, to the end of the play? The intrusion is when the gang is mistaken for the Downey gang and attacked. If they hadn’t been mistaken, there probably would not have been the death of one of the Williams. It was the 38th street gang’s presence and bad timing that got them stuck with the charges.
3. Why do the events of the play take place at this particular time and place? In other words, what is the unique factor which is out of the ordinary that causes a turn of events to take place? This is the day that someone is murdered and the 38th street gang is placed for blame.
4. State the dramatic questions that must be answered by the end of the play? (Ordinarily, the dramatic question shares a close connection with the intrustion.) What will be the final verdict for the boys? Will Henry’s subconscious have any significant influence in the behavior and ultimate end of Henry?
5. Use Henry to answer the questions concerning character. Ball says, a character is revealed by what he/she does, ie. The dramatic actions that are taken. Examine what the character wants Me against myself: Pachuco is the center point for this. He offers to the viewers Henry’s inner thoughts and perspectives on other characters. Me against another individual: The judge and court as a whole is an individual who Henry faces. He, as expressed by Pachuco, does not feel any positives towards them. On the other hand, they’re the forces he must appease in order to live a life not in prison. Me against society: Henry and the 38th street gang face persecution from the law. Society views them as hulligan zoot suitors who get in fights and submit to drugs/alcohol. Even in the courtroom the young adults were denied clean clothing, which distinctly pointed them to the jury as dirty gang members. This point in particular is what is most significant in relation to the title. Me against fate, the universe, natural forces, God or the gods: I suppose this one could also be in reference to Pachuco since he is such a presently (yet not physically present) strong character. So much so that he influences the actions of Henry. Fate can also come into play since it was fate that the 38th street gang happen to go to the dance. As mentioned before, they had bad timing.
6. The most important information in most plays takes place during theatrical moments. Identify the most theatrical moments in Zoot Suit. There are more than one. In my opinion this moment is actually the very end, when the audience is faced with three options and must choose for themselves which one they want: Henry and Della make a family, he dies in prison, or he heroically dies in battle, This is a moment where audience take the events that all happen and become their own jury of the court in deciding Henry’s future.
7. Provide at least three examples of images in Zoot Suit. How does the title of the play help us understand the images in the play? (Remember Ball says that, “An image is the use of something we know that tells us something we don’t know.” He goes on to say that images invoke and expand, rather than define and limit.”)
Clothing: An obvious image by being symbolized by the Zoot Suit the young men wore. It signifies the Chicano community that is so often marked by their appearance and the Zoot Suit, which is ultimately what led to one of the main ways they were more easily singled out and discriminated against
Media: Containment is a theme that follows the boys as they fight for their rights. They are forced into jail cells and treated differently only due to how they look. Jail cells in particular are an image of media and its effects since the newspapers used in the play are the dividing line between the boys and the reporters and lawyers trying to communicate with them.
Weapons: The gang culture is often placed in a negative light and seen as a violent group. The opposing side also uses weapons as a form of swaying the court. Weapons can also be seen through the verbal and physical treatment the boys get as they’re discriminated against
8. Ordinarily, there are many themes in most plays. List the themes in Zoot Suit. Isolation, since Henry, towards the end of the play, is left by many people (even his subconscious) and feels lost. Violence, which is shown both physically and emotionally. Communication through media is another possible theme. Finally, there is the theme of community, which is further explained in Question #9.
9. Most American plays have something to do with family and/or family relationships. What does family have to do with the dramatic action in Zoot Suit? Community is much more emphasized than biological family. However, community in of itself can become family. The boys stick together and support one another (to the most part) as they go through all of this. Della even helps Henry by showing up on the stand (even though the court destroys her with obscure questions). People are also shown through the Chicano community. The gang culture is interesting in that rather than centered around drugs, they’re centered around drugs.
The play starts with the introduction to the 38th Street Gang members, a group of young men and their girlfriends, who are headed to a party. This is based on a true story and takes place in 1943, a time when zoot suits were the fashion for many young men and often was associated with certain minority groups. Their rivals are the The Downey Gang, and Henry Reyna (the leader and main character to the play), his brother Rudy, and the gang are about to get in a lot of trouble for the events that happen that night.
2. What is the intrusion that causes the stasis to be broken and the dramatic action to develop, often at an increasingly rapid pace, to the end of the play?
The intrusion is when the gang is mistaken for the Downey gang and attacked. If they hadn’t been mistaken, there probably would not have been the death of one of the Williams. It was the 38th street gang’s presence and bad timing that got them stuck with the charges.
3. Why do the events of the play take place at this particular time and place? In other words, what is the unique factor which is out of the ordinary that causes a turn of events to take place?
This is the day that someone is murdered and the 38th street gang is placed for blame.
4. State the dramatic questions that must be answered by the end of the play? (Ordinarily, the dramatic question shares a close connection with the intrustion.)
What will be the final verdict for the boys? Will Henry’s subconscious have any significant influence in the behavior and ultimate end of Henry?
5. Use Henry to answer the questions concerning character. Ball says, a character is revealed by what he/she does, ie. The dramatic actions that are taken. Examine what the character wants
Me against myself: Pachuco is the center point for this. He offers to the viewers Henry’s inner thoughts and perspectives on other characters.
Me against another individual: The judge and court as a whole is an individual who Henry faces. He, as expressed by Pachuco, does not feel any positives towards them. On the other hand, they’re the forces he must appease in order to live a life not in prison.
Me against society: Henry and the 38th street gang face persecution from the law. Society views them as hulligan zoot suitors who get in fights and submit to drugs/alcohol. Even in the courtroom the young adults were denied clean clothing, which distinctly pointed them to the jury as dirty gang members. This point in particular is what is most significant in relation to the title.
Me against fate, the universe, natural forces, God or the gods: I suppose this one could also be in reference to Pachuco since he is such a presently (yet not physically present) strong character. So much so that he influences the actions of Henry. Fate can also come into play since it was fate that the 38th street gang happen to go to the dance. As mentioned before, they had bad timing.
6. The most important information in most plays takes place during theatrical moments. Identify the most theatrical moments in Zoot Suit. There are more than one.
In my opinion this moment is actually the very end, when the audience is faced with three options and must choose for themselves which one they want: Henry and Della make a family, he dies in prison, or he heroically dies in battle, This is a moment where audience take the events that all happen and become their own jury of the court in deciding Henry’s future.
7. Provide at least three examples of images in Zoot Suit. How does the title of the play help us understand the images in the play? (Remember Ball says that, “An image is the use of something we know that tells us something we don’t know.” He goes on to say that images invoke and expand, rather than define and limit.”)
8. Ordinarily, there are many themes in most plays. List the themes in Zoot Suit.
Isolation, since Henry, towards the end of the play, is left by many people (even his subconscious) and feels lost. Violence, which is shown both physically and emotionally. Communication through media is another possible theme. Finally, there is the theme of community, which is further explained in Question #9.
9. Most American plays have something to do with family and/or family relationships. What does family have to do with the dramatic action in Zoot Suit?
Community is much more emphasized than biological family. However, community in of itself can become family. The boys stick together and support one another (to the most part) as they go through all of this. Della even helps Henry by showing up on the stand (even though the court destroys her with obscure questions). People are also shown through the Chicano community. The gang culture is interesting in that rather than centered around drugs, they’re centered around drugs.